external isight camera does not work in OS 10.7

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Level 1

15 points

external isight camera does not work in OS 10.7

I am trying to use my external Firewire iSight camera in iChat on my new MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1), 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM, 13. The Audio/Video box in iChat preferences says "Camera off." I tried:

-selecting the iSight cam in the preference page;

-selecting the iSight built-in microphone in the preference page;

-quitting iChat and restarting iChat;

-unplugging and replugging the camera. The green light on the cam initially comes on for a second and then immediately turns off when doing this step

Still says "Camera off."

Here are the iSight cam particulars, copied from the Systems info:

Model: 0x8

GUID: 0xA270004021952

Maximum Speed: Up to 400 Mb/sec

Connection Speed: Up to 200 Mb/sec

Sub-units:

iSight Unit:

Unit Software Version: 0x102

Unit Spec ID: 0xA02D

iSight Unit:

Unit Software Version: 0x10

Unit Spec ID: 0xA27

iSight Unit:

Unit Software Version: 0x11

Unit Spec ID: 0xA27

iSight Unit:

Unit Software Version: 0x12

Unit Spec ID: 0xA27

Product Revision Level: 1.0.3

Does the external iSight cam not work in Lion (like everything else that doesn't work; might as well be using Windows....grrrrrrrrrr)?

Thank you.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1), 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM, 13

Posted on Sep 20, 2011 7:32 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Sep 21, 2011 5:46 PM in response to susanf

Mine works fine on Lion

1. Verify that iChat > Video > Video Chat Enabled has a check (tick) mark in front of it.

(Clicking on this setting toggles it, so be careful how you leave it.)

2. After connecting external iSight, select external iSight in iChat > Preferences > Audio/Video > Camera

(This camera menu will not show unless your Mac recognizes more than one connected compatible camera.)

3. If you still see "Camera off", turn the ring around the lens at the front of the external iSight fully counter-clockwse and then back to fully clockwise.

4. If your problem remains, check external iSight with some other camera enabled apps like QuickTimeX, PhotoBooth, etc.

5. If you cannot make your external iSight work with anything, consider the testing and problem-solving suggestions offered here:

http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html

Be sure to try other Macs and connectors/cables/adapters until you find whether the problem is your iSight or merely the connection method.

Options I know for ways to connect your FW400 external iSight to a FW800 Mac port:

• This Firewire 400-800 cable can work: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP320LL/A
(I use this one.)

• Some report that this low-priced alternative cable works:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189097"

• To use your FW400 6pin-6pin cable, you can use a 6pin-9pin adapter like one of these:

http://tinyurl.com/ydsbb6m (I successfully use this one, too.)

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Answer 2

susanf Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 21, 2011 11:04 PM in response to EZ Jim

Wow, thank you EZ Jim! Twisting the ring on the lens did the trick! I did not know about that. Thank you! I was about to put the cam to bed in a drawer for a long sleep.

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Answer 3

Aug 10, 2015 12:19 AM in response to susanf

Oh, thank you! I too was on the verge of drawer-ing my trusty iSight, I just knew it should work. That's what I've always liked (and lorded over my Windows friends) that Apple Products "just work!"

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Answer 4

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Aug 10, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Mcalister Merchant

Mcalister Merchant wrote: ... my trusty iSight, I just knew it should work...

Operating instructions for the old external iSight are in the iSight User Guide manual.

If you don't have one, you can download a copy by clicking here.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.10.4

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